CITY FOOTPATHS

Southland Times, Issue 22478, 14 November 1934, Page 8

CITY FOOTPATHS

REPAIRS NECESSARY £lOOO FOR MAINTENANCE INADEQUATE RATES MAY GO UP Hints that the rates would next year have to be increased or a special loan raised to put the footpaths of the city in order were made at the meeting of the City Council last evening when the following clause in the Works Committee’s report came up for consideration:— A request was made at the last council meeting that the Works Committee consider the matter of footpaths and deterioration which is taking place. The committee has carefully considered this matter and in view of the following information taken from the annual report of the City Engineer, showing the expenditure on maintenance of footpaths since 1926-27, and in view of the fact that out of the £lOOO allocated for the current year £938 has already been spent, the committee has no recommendation to make:— Financial Year. Amount spent on footpath upkeep.

On page three of the current year’s estimates, the sum of £lOOO is provided for footpaths maintenance and of this the sum of £938 is already spent. Also on page three of the estimates £lOOO is provided for the reconstruction of footpaths and surfacing footpaths already lifted. Of this amount £lO7 is already spent. A further allocation of £5OO for the reconstruction of footpaths (relief labour) is provided for on page four of the estimates, and of this the sum of £ll9 is already spent. The chairman of the Works Committee, Councillor W. M. C. Denham, said that there were about 100 miles of footpaths in the city and the sum of £lOOO for maintenance was quite inadequate. In 1920 a lot of new footpaths had been laid through loan money and these were now requiring attention. It was a great pity that the footpaths were deteriorating, but it was not possible to do more at present. It was essential that more money should be set aside on next year’s estimates for the purpose. The council should be honest and tell the ratepayers that more money was needed and that next year the rates might have to be raised. Councillor Denham said he was satisfied that the corporation’s own products could be used for footpath work. Councillor L. F. Webb said it would probably be necessary to raise a special loan for footpaths improvement. Councillor J. H. Tattersfield said the whole trouble was the inadequate provision for footpaths maintenance made in the estimates for a number of years. He had frequently drawn attention to the danger of false economy in this direction. The clause was carried.

£ 1926-27 1197 1927-28 1491 1923-29 1782 1929-30 2197 1930-31 2958 1931-32 1979 1932-33 1556 1933-34 2183